Archives for March 2011

Disclosure: This could be a sponsored post or contain affiliate links (which means I earn a percentage of the sale), but all opinions are strictly my own.

It’s spring and the rainy season is upon us in here in the Midwest. Sort of. Ok we aren’t exactly getting rain. I guess that could be interpreted as a kind of half truth. We definitely aren’t lacking in the precipitation around these parts, but unfortunately our temperatures keep dropping into the 30’s. Which means that our rain is coming down in the form of snow. That’s right. I said SNOW!!!! In March! Can you believe it??? I really still cannot. We had a snowy weekend that is now starting to melt into a sloshy mess. Good thing the fantastic shop Beehive recently sent me some Cowboy rainBOPS!

Fitting for the girl who spent so many years in San Antonio, don’t ya think?

Have you heard of rainBOPS before? Well, they are only this really cute line of rainboots. 🙂

All at amazing prices! So it truly is the one stop shop when you are looking for something for yourself or to give as a gift. Now do you see why I think Beehive is so fantastic? Who wants to win a pair of their very own rainBOPS? And it’s winner’s choice of which pair. Now enter away!

*** This giveaway is open to US entries only ***

There are 6 chances to win. Be sure and leave separate comments for each entry on this posting to enter. **If you qualify for all 6 chances then leave 6 separate comments**

(5): Get Dandy in your inbox! Sign up for our newsletter in the right hand sidebar or if you already have. (ex: “Dandy Smith= newsletter”)

(6): Follow Dandy Giveaway on Twitter and then send out a tweet about this rainBOPS giveaway! (ex: “Dandy Smith= Twitter and I sent out a tweet!”)

This giveaway will be open for entries the entire week and end on Sunday, April 3rd at 5 pm CST. Be sure and check back on Monday, April 4th to see if you won, so you can claim your prize! ***Remember*** Winners are not notified through email, so you have to check back to find out if you won!

Disclosure: This could be a sponsored post or contain affiliate links (which means I earn a percentage of the sale), but all opinions are strictly my own.

When I was a little girl dolls were my thing. I had loads and loads. The kinds that you can dress up in various outfits and get together with your friends to play with. I had tons and tons of outfit options to choose from, hair accessories, etc. I kept all of the items and dolls in these specialty trunks. I’m sure all of us children of the 80’s are quite familiar with those decorative plastic trunks! 🙂 Looking back I guess the outfits we cool for the day, but we aren’t living in the 80’s anymore. My dolls weren’t really all that fashion forward. I guess they fit with the times, though. Nowadays there’s a new generation of fashion found in the Bratz line of dolls. In fact the all new line for the first part of the year is here!

There are dolls from the Bratz Xpress It line:

They are all about being fashion forward!

Bratz recently sent me one of their Rock dolls. They are all so cute and fun! Here are just a few of them:

Their accessories glow in the dark and they each come with cute Pretty Princess Bands.

What’s being given away this week from Bratz? Well, that would be the Bratz Rock Yasmin!

*** This giveaway is open to US entries only ***

There are 6 chances to win. Be sure and leave separate comments for each entry on this posting to enter. **If you qualify for all 6 chances then leave 6 separate comments**

This giveaway will be open for entries the entire week and end on Sunday, April 3rd at 5 pm CST. Be sure and check back on Monday, April 4th to see if you won, so you can claim your prize! ***Remember*** Winners are not notified through email, so you have to check back to find out if you won!

Disclosure: This could be a sponsored post or contain affiliate links (which means I earn a percentage of the sale), but all opinions are strictly my own.

When it comes to nursery decor and children’s clothing you will probably call me a snob. I tend to steer away from character items. Sorry Mickey, Elmo, and Barney! For the little person in my life I just like him to be more stylish and grown up looking. That means it’s generally a ‘no’ when characters are involved. I say generally only because I had control over the situation back when Banjo didn’t even know what a TV was. He just wore what I wanted him to wear. And he looked like such a cute little man! Now of course he is drawn to the characters from his favorite shows and movies. So I do give in every now and again in order to keep the peace around here. 😉 But for the most part he still does look like a little man. But when I had sole control over clothing and things were different. For instance, I insisted that he would have NO character bedding for his crib. This proved to be quite the complicated shopping experience. Everywhere I turned there was crib sets with various popular characters. I’m talking characters that you only learn about from watching TV. Isn’t that crazy? Babies don’t even watch TV! (Or at least they shouldn’t, but I’m not going to bore you with all the research studies I had to read back in the day. :)) How I wish that My Silly Monkeys Boutique had been around back in ’08. It’s THE place to find soooooo many simply adorable crib bedding sets. All without those characters that I get annoyed by! It would have saved me so much time. Although… if My Silly Monkeys had existed then hours of searching wouldn’t have been my problem, but rather actually deciding on which bedding set to get! Seriously there are so many that would have been just perfect for my little man’s nursery. Like…

Are you ready to find out what is being given away, so you can then enter to win? This week My Silly Monkeys Boutique is giving away a $35 gift certificate!!!! Start thinking of what you will buy if you win, so the decision will be quick and painless! 🙂

*** This giveaway is open to US entries***
There are 6 chances to win. Be sure and leave separate comments for each entry on this posting to enter. **If you qualify for all 6 chances then leave 6 separate comments**(1): Leave your name, email address, or whatever you feel most comfortable leaving in a comment. (ex: “Dandy Smith”)(2): Go to My Silly Monkeys Boutiquehave a look around, and then tell us your favorite crib bedding! (ex: “Dandy Smith = LOVE the Sea Turtle bedding!)(3): Sign up to get updates from My Silly Monkeys blog (in that blog’s right sidebar) or if you already get them. (ex: “Dandy Smith= signed up”) (4): Like My Silly Monkeys on Facebookor if you already do. (ex: “Dandy Smith= like”) (5): Follow Dandy Giveaway through Google Connect (in the right sidebar) (ex: “Dandy Smith= follow”)(6): Tell people about this great giveaway and then tell us how you told. (ex: “Dandy Smith= I emailed. I called. I texted.”)
This giveaway will be open for entries the entire week and end on Sunday, April 3rd at 5 pm CST. Be sure and check back on Monday, April 4th to see if you won, so you can claim your prize! ***Remember*** Winners are not notified through email, so you have to check back to find out if you won!

I use hair tips all the time and don’t think twice about sharing so I have put together some easy hair remedies.

When it comes to hair and keeping it healthy it is better for our hair not to wash it every day. For people such as myself who has incredibly greasy hair I have learned a few tricks to making my 2nd day hair look as good as just washing it.

Getting volume:
There are a couple of things to get volume.

First you can do a back comb. (this loses its poof over time)

A 2nd option is using really big rollers and root volume spray. Spray the roots and roll the large curlers leave in for about 5 minutes or until the spray dries.

An old fashioned way is to Use aluminum foil. Start by rolling aluminum foil in the shape of a cigar. Then, take 1’’ sections of hair and wrap from ends to roots around the foil. Heat up the foil by using a flat iron for 5 to 10 seconds. Allow the hair to cool down before removing foils. The result is big curls.

Beach Hair: Mix a generous amount of table salt into a water bottle and spray into hair. Let set and scrunch dry hair with your hands for a beachy textured look.Moisturized for Dry Hair: If you have extremely dry damaged hair use olive oil put a small amount on your hair and leave on the hair for 20mins once a week for hydration.

No time for a shower or Hair is to Greasy:

Dry shampoo by Tresemme is the answer. This product is awesome you spray it on leave in for a few minutes then brush your hair.

If you don’t have dry shampoo then Use talcum powder put a small amount into your hands and applies at the roots. **NOTE** Be careful! The powder can be messy so do this before you put on your favorite outfit.

If you have time to shower but your bangs are always greasy as mine are. I put on a shower cap and just wash my bangs.

Accessorize it. Use headbands, flowers, bows or anything else you like. If you don’t have headbands they are easy to make. Use old bra straps, just cut them off and secure them together. Nylons or leggings also make good headbands. I have also used the ties off of shirts. My favorite headbands are using the foam rolls (they can be purchased at Justice or Claires. Flowers can be purchased or made out of flowers from a craft store. Accessorizing 2nd day hair is a good way to class up your style.

Can’t find a Bobbie Pin. If you are out and need a bobbie pin and can’t find one try using a paper clip.

Static. When you wake up or put on a shirt that has lots of static it never fails that the static will end up on your or her hair. Take single fabric dryer sheet and rub it over your dry hair.

Strong Hard Setting Gel: If you need a really strong hold use an old trick of sugar and water mixed, **NOTE** heavy on the sugar. It is easier to apply with a small toothed comb.

Disclosure: This could be a sponsored post or contain affiliate links (which means I earn a percentage of the sale), but all opinions are strictly my own.

I’m sure glad they aren’t my neighbors!

This is my friend’s yard.

And this?

Still my friend’s yard!

Last embarrassing yard photo I promise:

Wow their yard really needs some major help! There’s even loads of thorns! That’s right I said THORNS! Ouchies!!!That must be an out West kinda thing. I’m sooo glad we don’t have those kinda thorns here in St. Louis and that my yard is actually kinda descent. Just don’t ever ask me about my 60’s ORIGINAL bathroom, okay? I don’t like to talk about it. 🙂

Disclosure: This could be a sponsored post or contain affiliate links (which means I earn a percentage of the sale), but all opinions are strictly my own.

I’m serious about traveling, photography, and decorating with shots that I have taken. This is quite evident to anyone walking around my house. However, my attention to detail isn’t exactly superb. I’m not one to be able to spot the best picture taking locales. So those little signs that declare the great photo opp spots? They are my best friends! 🙂 For instance a I would totally miss the opportunity on something like this:

I lack the ability in being able to see a letter ‘D’ that’s hidden in a structure or building!

It’s a good thing that the Letter Chef has some major talent and comes to the rescue on this one! You are going to see what I mean with the tour of this shop. The artist is so very talented and I just LOVE all of her letter options! Seriously there are so many options of different letters to choose from. That means that she really has an eye for this type of thing. Yep she is talent with a captial:See… I told you there were lots of options for each letter!

With Letter Chef you are able to pick your very own individual letters and use them to create your own words or names.

(6): Tell people about this great giveaway and then tell us how you told. (ex: “Dandy Smith= I emailed. I called. I texted.”)

This giveaway will be open for entries the entire week and end on Sunday, March 27th at 5 pm CST. Be sure and check back on Monday, March 28th to see if you won, so you can claim your prize! ***Remember*** Winners are not notified through email, so you have to check back to find out if you won!

Disclosure: This could be a sponsored post or contain affiliate links (which means I earn a percentage of the sale), but all opinions are strictly my own.

Spring is here (as of yesterday), which makes now the perfect time to introduce the new spring lines of some great toys from Moxie Girlz, Bratz, Lalaloopsy, and Little Tikes! In that order, so be sure and check back in the weeks to come for all of those dandy giveaways! 🙂 First up is the trendy dolls from Moxie Girlz. These dolls are for ages 5+ and aren’t just about fashion. Moxie Girlz pride themselves on being energetic, positive, and confident. Talk about encouraging some major self esteem!

She’s perfect for any girl to express her very own individuality! Girls are able to make the outfit more colorful with the enclosed markers and then view their work with the special 3D glasses. In addition the color can be removed and then reapplied for a whole new look! How fun is that?

This giveaway will be open for entries the entire week and end on Sunday, March 27th at 5 pm CST. Be sure and check back on Monday, March 28th to see if you won, so you can claim your prize! ***Remember*** Winners are not notified through email, so you have to check back to find out if you won!

Disclosure: This could be a sponsored post or contain affiliate links (which means I earn a percentage of the sale), but all opinions are strictly my own.

All of the pain and suffering that is going on in Japan right now is truly heartbreaking. The entire situation is soooooo very awful. It’s hard to even know exactly what to do to help when I’m thousands and thousands of miles away. I’m grateful to those who are able to get the word out and help in times like this. Accent Studios is raising funds for the Red Cross for relief aid in Japan! All sales of their ‘Relief for Japan’ decals will go directly to the Red Cross to help with the relief efforts. By purchasing one of these decals you will be giving to a good cause and also showing your support as you drive around town.

Disclosure: This could be a sponsored post or contain affiliate links (which means I earn a percentage of the sale), but all opinions are strictly my own.

I do love my little toddler boy with all of my heart, but one day I do hope to have a little girl. My boy is turning 3 next month and that means it has been 3 years of shopping in the boy’s section. I long to be able to buy frilly cuteness for my own daughter and not someone else’s. Does that sound mean? Or just a little bitter? Hey at least I’m being truthful my friends! 🙂 Sure I like to buy things for other’s little girls, but don’t you think it will be even more fun when it’s for my very own??? After all of these years you know that I will be shopping away on some designer little girl duds when I have my own little girl. The shop Fleur Lilly is all about designer pieces! Shall we take a look at what I would buy from Fleur Lilly for my (hopefully future) little girl?

For starters these are the most darling pair of booties that I’ve ever seen!

(6): Tell people about this great giveaway and then tell us how you told. (ex: “Dandy Smith= I emailed. I called. I texted.”)

This giveaway will be open for entries the entire week and end on Sunday, March 20th at 5 pm CST. Be sure and check back on Monday, March 21st to see if you won, so you can claim your prize! ***Remember*** Winners are not notified through email, so you have to check back to find out if you won!